SC seeks progress report on murder probe against Agni Sapkota

KATHMANDU, April 22 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the government to report it within 15 days on the progress and development in the investigation on the murder charge against UCPN (Maoist) leader Agni Sapkota.

Sapkota has been accused of the murder of Arjun Lama, a local of Kavre district, during the Maoist insurgency.


A division bench of Justices Kalyan Shrestha and Govind Kumar Upadhyaya reminded the government of the apex court's previous order seeking fortnightly progress on the investigation.

After the police refused to register complaint against Sapkota, Lama's wife Purnimaya had moved the apex court in 2011. The Supreme Court had then ordered the police to register the complaint against Sapkota and investigate the case. The apex court had also asked the government authorities to report progress on investigation into the case every 15 days.

Likewise, the court in November 2012 had also issued an interim order against the government not to execute the government's decision to rescind investigation as Purnimaya moved the apex court again.

Human rights activists Sushil Pyakurel, Kanak Mani Dixit and six others had also filed a petition against Sapkota, who was the communications minister in the government led by Jhalanath Khanal, to recall him from the post.

Hearing all related petitions together, the division bench of Shrestha and Upadhyaya urged the government authorities to inform the court through the Office of Attorney General whether or not the investigation has been completed.

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